Doors of Opportunity - part 3
Last week we began talking about missed opportunities that have come our way. We saw how Esau squandered the opportunity that was given to him and the loss that came to him because of this. Let’s now look at what Jesus had to say about missed opportunities in Matthew 25: 14-30 (NKJV) when he taught about the parable of the talents.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Thinking more about missed opportunities, why do you think people miss opportunities that come their way? What might hinder them from walking through an open door that is placed before them? Here are some of the things I thought about in this regard.
- Perhaps like Esau, they just don’t think through the situation and its possibilities.
- Maybe they are lazy and only living for the present in their daily life.
- Some people will think, “Let someone else do this.”
- Possibly they panic about the “unknown” of the opportunity and can’t move forward.
- They might not desire to grow and are stuck in their past.
- Fear of failure, fear of mistakes, fear of rejection or fear of success could impact their choices.
Have you ever heard of this old proverb? “Cowards die many times before their death.” Maybe some people don’t take advantage of the opportunities offered to them because they simply are cowardly. And thus they never experience the fulfillment and reward that comes with walking through doors of opportunity that the Lord sets before them. That is sad, isn’t it?
Let’s pray right now and ask the Lord to help us not miss any open doors that are set before us from now on. We don’t want to squander any chances or opportunities to bless others and to be blessed ourselves.
Dr. Sharon Predovich
